White House: Obamacare To Remain Unpopular Until Obama Leaves Office

“You know, we think the numbers on health care won't move until the President leaves office.”

After Morning Joe'sco-host Mika Brzezinski contrasted a new Quinnipiac poll showing public opinion about Obamacare remains negative with an ABC News/Washington Post poll which indicated healthcare was becoming more popular, Chuck Todd quoted a senior White House political aide who told him, “You know we think the numbers on health care won't move until the President leaves office.”

Joe Scarborough asked Chuck Todd about the two polls:

So Chuck, as we put up the ObamaCare poll from Quinnipiac, this isn't surprising to you, I’m sure. We're going to have these numbers all over the place in the coming weeks. But it's certainly the day after the ABC News poll suggested a big shift. This one's a bit more in line with expectations, isn't it?

Todd, the Chief White House Correspondent for NBC News, answered:

It is. And you know, what was interesting is talking to White House aides yesterday and in many ways they were in a celebratory mode. They feel a little vindicated. However, they were very sober-minded about that ABC Poll, they weren't flaunting it. You know, they said, “Well there is the one poll.” But they were careful to say, "You know what, in all honesty, the numbers haven't moved." You talked with senior political aides and they’re like, “You know we see the same thing you do, the numbers haven't moved, and we don't think the numbers will move.” In fact, I had one senior political aide who has been with the President for nearly a decade say to me, “You know, we think the numbers on health care won't move until the President leaves office.”